What is BigCommerce and How does it work?

In a few minutes, we will explore in this article: 

• what BigCommerce is, 
• how it works, and 
• why it's a top choice for entrepreneurs

Let’s read on to find out.

What is BigCommerce?

BigCommerce is a leading e-commerce platform that provides software-as-a-service (SaaS) solutions to businesses of all sizes. It enables merchants to build, innovate, and grow their online stores.

Key features and benefits of BigCommerce include:

• Ease of use: BigCommerce offers a user-friendly interface and intuitive tools that make it easy for merchants to set up and manage their online stores, even without technical expertise.
• Customization: The platform provides extensive customization options, allowing merchants to create unique and branded online shopping experiences.
• Scalability: BigCommerce is designed to grow with businesses, offering features and functionality that can support businesses as they expand and evolve.
• Open SaaS platform: BigCommerce combines the best of SaaS with the flexibility of open APIs, giving businesses the freedom to integrate with other systems and customize their stores to meet specific needs.
• Enterprise-grade functionality: The platform offers sophisticated features like multi-storefront management, headless commerce, and B2B capabilities, making it a suitable choice for large enterprises.
• Security: BigCommerce really prioritizes security, providing robust measures to protect sensitive customer data and ensure secure transactions.
• Support: The company offers comprehensive support resources, including documentation, tutorials, and customer support, to help merchants succeed.

How does BigCommerce work?

BigCommerce operates as a cloud-based, software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. This means that merchants don't need to install or maintain any software on their own servers. Everything is hosted and managed by BigCommerce.

Here's a simplified breakdown of how BigCommerce works:

1. Sign Up and Choose a Plan: Merchants start by signing up for a BigCommerce account and selecting a pricing plan that suits their needs.
2. Design Your Store: BigCommerce offers a variety of customizable themes and templates to help merchants design their online storefront. Merchants can choose a pre-designed theme and customize it using the drag-and-drop page builder or work with a developer to create a completely custom design.
3. Add Products: Merchants can easily add their products to the store by entering product details, uploading images, and setting prices. BigCommerce supports both physical and digital products.
4. Configure Settings: BigCommerce provides a comprehensive dashboard where merchants can manage their store settings, including payment gateways, shipping options, taxes, and other essential configurations.
5. Market Your Store: BigCommerce offers various marketing and SEO tools to help merchants promote their stores and attract customers. These tools include built-in SEO features, email marketing integrations, social media integrations, and more.
6. Process Orders and Manage Inventory: When a customer places an order, BigCommerce handles the payment processing securely and updates the inventory automatically. Merchants can easily manage their orders, track shipments, and handle returns from the BigCommerce dashboard.
7. Grow Your Business: BigCommerce offers a wide range of features and integrations to help businesses scale and grow. These features include multi-storefront management, headless commerce capabilities, B2B functionality, and more.

BigCommerce Features

With a deep understanding of what BigCommerce is, customers are provided with a convenient eCommerce experience and a wide range of high-quality features and tools.

1. Intuitive Store Builder:

• What it is: BigCommerce's store builder is your digital workshop for crafting an online storefront that wows. With customizable themes, a drag-and-drop page editor, and no coding required, you can create a professional and visually engaging website that showcases your brand.
• Why it matters: A user-friendly interface means less time grappling with technicalities and more time focusing on selling.
• How it benefits you: A polished store builds trust with shoppers, encourages them to browse longer, and ultimately increases the likelihood of conversions.

2. Multi-Channel Selling:

• What it is: This feature allows you to expand your reach beyond your own website. BigCommerce integrates with popular online marketplaces (Amazon, eBay), social media platforms, and even point-of-sale systems, giving you the ability to sell your products wherever your customers are.
• Why it matters: Don't limit yourself to a single platform!
• How it benefits you: Expanded reach means more potential sales. By selling across multiple channels, you diversify your revenue streams and reduce reliance on any single platform.

3. Built-in SEO Tools:

• What it is: BigCommerce includes a suite of built-in SEO (Search Engine Optimization) features that help your website and product pages rank higher in search engine results. This includes customizable meta tags, automatic sitemap generation, and integrations with Google Shopping.
• Why it matters: Getting your store in front of the right customers is crucial.
• How it benefits you: Increased visibility translates to more clicks, more eyes on your products, and, ultimately, more sales. SEO is a long-term strategy for sustainable growth.

If you need to enlarge your website with more SEO tools, there are more than 600 apps available for you to select from the BigCommerce app store.

4. Flexible Payment and Shipping Options:

• What it is: BigCommerce gives you the flexibility to offer a variety of payment methods (like PayPal, Stripe, and Apple Pay) and shipping carriers, catering to customer preferences around the world. You can also set up automatic shipping calculations and real-time carrier quotes.
• Why it matters: Offering a variety of payment gateways and shipping carriers reduces friction during checkout.
• How it benefits you: A smooth checkout experience is a major factor in reducing cart abandonment. When customers have their preferred options, they're more likely to complete their purchase.

5. Marketing and Conversion Tools:

• What it is: BigCommerce provides a toolbox of features to help you attract, engage, and convert customers. This includes email marketing tools, abandoned cart recovery emails, the ability to create coupons and discounts, and integrations with various marketing platforms.
• Why it matters: Driving traffic is one thing, but converting visitors into paying customers is the ultimate goal.
• How it benefits you: Targeted marketing campaigns and personalized offers nurture leads and incentivize purchases, boosting your overall conversion rate.

6. Robust Analytics and Reporting:

• What it is: BigCommerce's analytics dashboard gives you a comprehensive view of your store's performance. You can track sales, traffic sources, customer behavior, popular products, and more.
• Why it matters: Data is your friend!
• How it benefits you: Understanding your data helps you make informed decisions. You can identify trends, optimize your strategies, and pinpoint areas for improvement.

7. Scalability for Growth:

• What it is: BigCommerce is built to grow with your business. As you expand, you can take advantage of features like multi-storefront management (for running multiple brands or regions), headless commerce (for advanced customization), and B2B functionality (for wholesale and corporate sales).
• Why it matters: Your platform should evolve with your business.
• How it benefits you: As your business expands, you won't outgrow your platform. You can seamlessly add new stores, experiment with different technologies, and cater to diverse customer segments.

In addition to the robust built-in features that BigCommerce offers, many businesses opt to further customize their online stores to meet specific needs. This is where BigCommerce development services come into play. 

BigCommerce: Pricing & Plans

BigCommerce Pricing and Plans

BigCommerce offers customers 4 different plans, each corresponding to a different price range:

• BigCommerce Standard: $39 per month
• BigCommerce Plus: $105 per month
• BigCommerce Pro: $399 per month
• BigCommerce Enterprise: Price varies based on business requirements.

Here’s a quick comparison table of the 4 plans.

Feature	BigCommerce Standard	BigCommerce Plus	BigCommerce Pro	BigCommerce Enterprise
Monthly Cost	$39	$105	$399	Varies based on business needs
Sales Cap	Up to $50k	Up to $180k	Up to $400k	Custom
Additional Sales Cap Cost	N/A	N/A	$150 per $200,000	N/A
Online Store	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Unlimited Products	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Unlimited Bandwidth	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Unlimited File Storage	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Unlimited Staff Accounts	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Gift Cards	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Ratings and Reviews	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Multi-currency Selling	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Point of Sale (POS)	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Professional Reporting	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Automatic Image Optimization	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
AMP (Accelerated Mobile Pages)	✔️	✔️	✔️	✔️
Abandoned Cart Saver	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Persistent Cart	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Stored Credit Cards	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Customer Grouping/Segmentation	❌	✔️	✔️	✔️
Google Customer Reviews	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
Advanced Product Filtering	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Price Lists	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Unlimited API Calls	❌	❌	❌	✔️
BigCommerce Consulting	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Priority Support	❌	❌	❌	✔️

The first three plans are ideal for individuals and small firms, while the last plan is designed specifically for large corporations and businesses.

BigCommerce also offers a free 15-day trial. Also, you will receive a 25% discount if you choose annual billing. 

1. BigCommerce Standard

This is the most affordable plan from BigCommerce, costing subscribers $39 per month. It offers more features than similar plans from Shopify, Volusion, and Squarespace, such as:

• An online store
• Unlimited products
• Unlimited bandwidth
• Unlimited file storage
• Unlimited staff accounts
• Gift cards
• Ratings and reviews
• Multi-currency selling
• Point of Sale (POS) functionality
• Professional reporting
• Automatic image optimization
• AMP (accelerated mobile pages) functionality

The BigCommerce Standard plan provides everything you need to run an online shop. It also supports transactions in different currencies with an automated currency conversion system.

2. BigCommerce Plus

BigCommerce Plus includes features not available in the Standard plan, such as:

• An abandoned cart-saver tool
• A persistent cart (saves products in a customer’s cart across devices)
• Stored credit cards (allows customers to save their card details)
• Customer grouping/segmentation

Customer segmentation is a particularly useful tool as it helps you differentiate between various consumer segments. Based on their behavior and transactions, you can offer different rewards. You can also use this feature to build a rewards program.

Visit BigCommerce Plus

3. BigCommerce Pro

In addition to the features from BigCommerce Plus, the BigCommerce Pro plan offers a significantly higher sales cap, allowing up to $400,000 in online transactions, with an additional $150 per month for every extra $200,000 in sales. 

Another advantage of this plan is the availability of Google Customer Reviews, which lets you collect and display customer feedback.

Google Customer Reviews

After a customer purchases your products through the BigCommerce marketplace, Google will send them an email with a survey once their order has been successfully delivered. The ratings will then be displayed on your optional Google Customer Reviews badge, Search Ads, and in Google Shopping.

Google Product Ratings

Visit BigCommerce Pro

4. BigCommerce Enterprise

BigCommerce Enterprise is ideal for large companies looking for advanced selling tools. The Enterprise plan includes more comprehensive support, such as data transfer, configuration, and account management. 

Features exclusive to the Enterprise plan include:

• Advanced product filtering
• Price lists
• Unlimited API calls
• BigCommerce consulting
• Priority support

You may need to conduct a conversation with BigCommerce regarding the price requirements, representing your business needs, if you are involved in this plan. However, BigCommerce stated that their price is lower than Shopify’s enterprise-grade plan (which usually costs approximately $2000 a month).

Recommendation: How to Choose the Right BigCommerce Plan?

Visit BigCommerce Enterprise

Is it worth using BigCommerce?

Yes, BigCommerce can absolutely be worth using, but the value it provides depends heavily on aligning with your specific business needs and goals. Let me explain why.

Strengths that Make BigCommerce Shine:

1. Comprehensive Feature Set: BigCommerce is like a Swiss Army knife for online stores. It comes packed with a wide array of built-in features that address everything from store design and product management to marketing, SEO, and analytics. This means you'll likely need fewer third-party apps, simplifying your tech stack and potentially saving you money in the long run.
2. Scalability: BigCommerce is built to grow alongside your business. Whether you're just starting out or already have a substantial online presence, BigCommerce offers plans and features that can accommodate your current needs and future aspirations. This eliminates the need to migrate platforms as your business expands.
3. Customization and Flexibility: BigCommerce is highly customizable, allowing you to tailor your store's look and functionality to your brand's unique identity. Their open API and headless commerce capabilities provide even more flexibility, allowing developers to create bespoke experiences and integrations.
4. No Transaction Fees: Unlike some other platforms, BigCommerce doesn't take a cut of your sales. This means you keep more of your hard-earned revenue, which is especially important for high-volume businesses.
5. Multi-Channel Selling: BigCommerce seamlessly integrates with popular marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, and social media platforms. This allows you to expand your reach, tap into new customer bases, and diversify your sales channels.
6. Strong SEO Performance: BigCommerce is known for its built-in SEO features, helping your store and products rank higher in search engine results. This can lead to increased organic traffic and more potential customers finding your business naturally.
7. 24/7 Support: When you need help, BigCommerce has your back. Their 24/7 customer support means you can get assistance whenever you encounter issues or have questions, minimizing downtime and ensuring a smooth experience for your customers.

When BigCommerce Might Be the Perfect Fit:

• Growing Businesses: If you have ambitious growth plans and need a platform that can scale alongside your success, BigCommerce is an excellent choice.
• Customization Enthusiasts: If you value the ability to tailor your store's design and functionality extensively, BigCommerce's customization options and open API will be a major advantage.
• Multi-Channel Sellers: If you want to sell your products across multiple platforms and marketplaces, BigCommerce's integrations make it easy to manage your inventory and orders from a central dashboard.
• Businesses Seeking a Robust All-in-One Solution: If you prefer a platform that offers a comprehensive suite of features out of the box, reducing the need for third-party apps, BigCommerce is a strong contender.

When BigCommerce Might Not Be the Perfect Fit:

• Small Budgets: BigCommerce's pricing plans, while offering great value, can be a barrier for startups or small businesses with limited budgets. If you're just starting out and need a more cost-effective option, platforms like Shopify's Basic plan or WooCommerce (which is free to use but requires hosting and additional plugins) might be more suitable.
• Simple Needs: If you have a very small product catalog and basic e-commerce needs, BigCommerce's extensive feature set might be overkill. Simpler platforms like Squarespace or Wix, which offer e-commerce functionality as part of their website builder packages, could be a better fit.
• Limited Internationalization: While BigCommerce supports multiple currencies and languages, it might not be the best option for businesses that heavily rely on international sales. Some platforms, like Shopify, offer more robust features for international selling, such as localized storefronts and compliance with different regions' regulations.

Remember, the best way to determine if BigCommerce is the right fit for your business is to take advantage of its free trial, explore the platform's features, and compare it to other options on the market.

Further Reading: BigCommerce Reviews 2021: Features, Price, Support, Pros & Cons

Bigcommerce vs. Competitors

With so many ecommerce platform options competing for your attention, let's dive into a head-to-head comparison of BigCommerce against three of its biggest rivals: Shopify, WooCommerce, and Magento.

Round 1: Ease of Use

• Shopify: Takes the gold for user-friendliness. Its intuitive interface and drag-and-drop editor make setup a breeze, even for beginners.
• BigCommerce: Not far behind. While slightly more complex, its interface is still manageable, and its comprehensive documentation helps users navigate its features.
• WooCommerce: Requires more technical know-how, especially when it comes to setting up hosting and managing plugins. Not the most beginner-friendly.
• Magento: Definitely geared towards developers. Its complexity makes it a challenging platform for those without coding skills.

Round 2: Customization

• BigCommerce: A champion of customization, offering a vast array of themes and a flexible API for deeper modifications. Its headless commerce capabilities are a major advantage for brands seeking unique experiences.
• WooCommerce: Extremely customizable thanks to its open-source nature. With endless plugins and themes, you can create almost any imaginable storefront.
• Shopify: Offers a decent selection of themes and some customization options but less flexible than BigCommerce or WooCommerce.
• Magento: Highly customizable but requires extensive development resources to unlock its full potential.

Round 3: Scalability

• BigCommerce: Built to scale, with plans and features that can accommodate growing businesses. It's a solid choice for companies with ambitious growth goals.
• Magento: The scalability king. Designed for large enterprises with complex requirements, it can handle massive amounts of traffic and inventory.
• Shopify: Can scale with your business, but its Plus plan (for high-volume businesses) comes with a hefty price tag.
• WooCommerce: Can be scaled with the right hosting and optimization, but it may require more technical expertise than other platforms.

Round 4: Pricing

• WooCommerce: Technically free, but you'll need to pay for hosting, a domain name, and potentially premium themes and plugins, making it hard to estimate the actual cost.
• Shopify: Offers a range of plans with varying features and pricing. It can be a good value for beginners, but the higher-tier plans can get expensive.
• BigCommerce: Similar to Shopify in terms of pricing structure, but it's known for offering more features out of the box.
• Magento: The most expensive option on this list. It's enterprise-grade software, so expect to invest heavily in development, hosting, and maintenance.

And the Winner Is...?

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best platform for you depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical skills.

• If you prioritize ease of use and a streamlined setup, Shopify is a strong contender.
• If you want maximum customization and flexibility, BigCommerce and WooCommerce are excellent choices.
• If you're a large enterprise with complex needs and a hefty budget, Magento might be the way to go.

FAQs about BigCommerce

Final thoughts

We hope that this article will help you understand What BigCommerce is and how it functions and clear your doubts about this specific software.